Every motorist knows for sure that for the normal operation of the engine in his car, it is necessary to maintain the required level of lubrication. During operation, the oil is naturally consumed and needs to be topped up. The question arises, what is normal engine oil consumption?
In this article, we will just talk about this, the reasons for the consumption of lubricant for the most common engines will be described, and recommendations will also be given for proper control of lubrication in the motor.
Factors affecting increased oil consumption
Increased lubricant consumption is a wake-up call for any car owner. As a rule, high oil consumption in the engine is present in cars with high mileage. This indicator must be monitored periodically, because a lack of oil can cause costly repairs.
The oil consumption rate consists of a combination of the following factors:
- The age of the motor and its technical characteristics. This also includes timely maintenance, weather conditions under which it was operated, etc.;
- Engine type. Normal oil consumption for gasoline, diesel and turbocharged engines varies significantly and this aspect simply needs to be taken into account;
- The quality indicators of the lubricant itself play a huge role.. Oil viscosity is one of the main criteria for evaluating consumption.
It is worth noting that an excess amount of fuel and lubricants in the engine also increases its consumption. A normalized indicator of the lubricant level can prevent costly repairs and save you from unnecessary expenses.
The vehicle can be operated under different conditions (for example, frequent stoppages in traffic jams or vice versa driving on country roads), which affect the correctness of consumption information. The generally accepted indicator of measuring oil consumption in an engine is the ratio of the amount of lubricant spent per 100 liters of fuel.
Indicators of normal oil consumption for different types of engines
As described earlier, it is worth paying special attention to the type of engine in your car. The oil consumption of different motors directly depends on their design. Below are the normal consumption figures for each type of motor.
Petrol power unit
On vehicles recently released from the assembly line, normal oil consumption is considered to be an indicator that does not exceed 2.5 ml / 100 liters of fuel. It is worth noting that when running in a new car, this figure can be much higher, since the new parts have not yet completely got used to each other.
Valid for used cars, the indicator is 100 g per 100 liters of fuel. This oil consumption is typical for cars with low mileage and in good technical condition.
Increased oil consumption approx. 0.5 liters per 100 liters of fuel is already considered critical. With such a lubricant consumption or higher, the engine may simply jam on the move, therefore, with such indicators, it is recommended to visit the nearest technical inspection point.
Diesel power unit
Normal fuel consumption for diesel engines is around 300-500 g / 100 l. The critical flow rate for this type of motor is 2000 g/100 l. In a diesel engine, high pressure is constantly present, which affects oil costs. Very often, diesel engines are used in construction equipment and trucks that constantly carry heavy loads. All these additional power costs also increase lubricant consumption to a large extent.
Turbocharged power unit
It is worth saying that more and more new engines with turbines have recently appeared. There are both gasoline power units with a turbine and modern turbodiesels on the market. The number of turbines can also reach 3 pieces on one motor.
These power units have enormous power in a very small size. It follows from this that oil consumption directly depends on the power of the engine, therefore these units are subject to the greatest waste of lubricant.
Even a new turbocharged engine consumes about 80 g of oil per 1000 liters. For the full operation of the turbine itself, lubrication is required, and if there are several turbines, then the cost of fuel and lubricants will be much more significant.
And so, an oil consumption rate of 1 liter per 1000 km or 100 liters of fuel for a conventional engine is a critical norm, and for 2 other types of engines, a critical indicator will be 2 l / 1000 km or 100 liters of fuel.
Causes of excessive oil consumption may lie in a dirty oil filter, its condition must also be monitored and a new one must be installed during a regular oil change.
Why is there an excess consumption of lubricant?
The oil inside a car engine can be consumed both naturally and for a number of the following reasons:
- Banal overflow of oil into the engine. The increased volume of lubrication causes the oil to force itself through the holes inside the engine. The oil simply escapes through the ventilation system to the outside and requires further topping up;
- Purchasing the cheapest lubricant. Low-quality oil has a minimum viscosity and evaporates more quickly, compared to more expensive counterparts;
- Excessive loads on the power unit. Too active driving style contributes to an increase in oil consumption, and this indicator can also be influenced by the terrain itself (mountainous, flat, etc.);
- Ambient temperature. The increase in temperature is directly proportional to the increase in lubricant consumption;
- physical losses. Usually they are associated with a malfunction of the oil filter, but can be caused by a leak in the engine itself. Very often the gasket between the cylinder head and the engine housing fails, and the bolts can also simply loosen.
Do not forget that a regular oil change should be carried out at least 1 time in 10,000 km. Such recommendations are usually given by the car manufacturer, but in reality it is better to change the oil much more often. It is believed that no more than 8 thousand km should pass from replacement to replacement, and for cars with increased power, this procedure is advised to be carried out every 5 thousand km.
In used vehicles, various additives can be additionally used to help reduce lubricant consumption. There are many engines on the modern automotive market, which, due to their design features, begin to “eat” oil already in the first year of operation.
The operation of which engine components and parts affects the increased lubricant consumption?
The fluid inside the engine may leak out or evaporate. As a rule, evaporation occurs on the surface of overheated parts and mechanisms. Next, we describe the main signs of incorrect operation of engine parts that can affect the “zhor” of oil:
- Main block of cylinders. Often the gasket between the block and the cylinder head starts to leak. The problem can be identified visually;
- Crankshaft . Similar to the case described above, oil seals may leak due to heavy wear. You can find the problem by disassembling the motor. In this case, the seals will have to be replaced with new ones;
- Oil filter. It may become clogged or simply screwed in badly. The problem is easy to determine visually and replace this unit with a new one;
- Gas distribution valves. Valve stem seals may fail due to overheating. Oil will begin to seep into the timing mechanism. The problem is fixed by replacing the rubber caps;
- Oil scraper rings. Wear on these piston rings is a very common problem. Blueish smoke from oil fumes begins to come out of the exhaust pipe. You can correct the situation by replacing the rings;
- Cylinder failure. Often, scuffing and excessive wear are formed in them under the influence of high temperatures. Oil literally soaks into these microcracks, causing excessive lubricant consumption. The problem can sometimes be solved by replacing the piston and oil scraper rings, but it may also be necessary to bore or grind the cylinders themselves;
- Turbine lubrication. The turbocharger is constantly pumping air, because of this it is constantly very hot. He also needs lubrication in the process. Turbine sizes can be very different, so you need to take into account the total amount of oil poured into the engine.
Conclusion
In this text, the most significant points regarding the normal oil consumption in road transport were highlighted. The normal consumption that each type of engine should have was described, and the reasons for which these unnecessary expenses appear were described.
Should constantly monitor the level of lubrication in the engine of your car. It should not be allowed both its shortage and excess equally. In any case, before using the vehicle, you should carefully study the instructions for its operation. It is also worth using fuels and lubricants recommended by the car manufacturer. In this case, the risks will be minimized.
It should be remembered that oil consumption in road transport with decent mileage is always much higher, therefore, if the lubricant costs more than 500 grams per 100 liters of gasoline or a thousand kilometers, you should contact a service center and conduct a thorough check of the entire engine.
Question from a reader:
« Hello. Please tell me what is the normal oil consumption for a non-new engine. Foreign car mileage of about 180,000 kilometers. Every thousand I add almost 300 grams! I don't think this is normal? Thanks in advance for your reply»
To be honest, I have already talked a little about oil consumption. BUT today I want to talk about the normal value. An internal combustion engine, no matter how perfect it is, still consumes a little oil - so what is the normal value ...... ..
Conditionally, I want to separate the engines: - these are ordinary gasoline, turbocharged gasoline and diesel engines, as a rule, they are also turbocharged.
One golden rule – normal fuel consumption is calculated not by vehicle mileage, but by fuel consumption. That is, for 100 or 1000 liters consumed. Usually a value equal to 100 liters is taken.
Conventional gasoline engine
For new gasoline engines, normal oil consumption is considered to be 0.005 - 0.025% per 100 liters. That is, with an average mileage of 1000 kilometers, normal oil consumption will be 5 - 25 grams.
For normally worn engines - normal oil consumption is 0.025 - 0.1%, that is, 25 - 100 grams of engine oil will need to be poured per 1000 km.
For worn engines on the verge of repair - oil consumption is 0.4 - 0.6% per 100 liters of fuel. This is 400 - 600 grams per 100 liters. The critical mark of 0.8% is 800 grams of oil per 100 liters.
In turbocharged engines, normal oil consumption is slightly higher than in conventional aspirated engines.
For a new engine, normal consumption may well be 80 grams per 100 liters. That is, for 1000 kilometers we add 80 grams, 10,000 km - already about 800 grams
For worn-out turbocharged engines - here the guys can reach up to two liters. And if the turbine is faulty, then the flow rate can be even higher. Therefore, if your car consumes more than two liters, then you need to diagnose and repair if necessary.
The consumption of a diesel engine is almost the same as a turbocharged engine. Normal oil consumption is about 300 - 500 grams of oil per 10,000 kilometers. If the consumption exceeds 2 liters, then you need to go to the service.
That's all. Your 300 grams per 1000 kilometers is definitely a lot, go to a car service for now.
In the section on the question Where to find the norms and what is the frequency for replacing antifreeze? given by the author Yaisiya Lukanina the best answer is To minimize the risk of engine overheating, you need to carefully monitor the health of all elements of the cooling system, carry out preventive maintenance and technical inspection, maintain the required level of coolant and eliminate leaks in a timely manner. Antifreeze should be replaced every two years or every 50 thousand kilometers. When replacing antifreeze, it is advisable to clean the cooling system of rust, scale and other contaminants using special flushing agents.
Answer from Jurela[guru]
The main thing... that not the left was!! !
Before the winter period .. check ... Well, everything, then, in principle, it depends on the mechanic or the drivers! !
Why are they ... straight ... like columns !!!
Answer from Yuriy[newbie]
Try to read the instruction manual or service book, everything seems to be written there.
Answer from ETERNAL STUDENT 2007[master]
for passenger cars there are recommendations from manufacturers - replacement every 3 years. I think for trucks, too, no more, because on average, over 3 years, antifreeze loses most of its useful properties. .
on the page
find
Application
to the order of the Ministry of Transport of Russia
dated 14.03.2008 N AM-23-r
GUIDELINES
FUEL AND LUBRICANT CONSUMPTION RATES
BY ROAD TRANSPORT
Answer from AVL[guru]
The norm of life is once every 3 years.
Answer from Alexey Baranov[guru]
Some antifreezes can withstand 5 years of operation and 100-250 thousand kilometers. The shelf life and frequency of fluid replacement are usually indicated on the packaging. And yet, during operation, coolants gradually lose their properties: due to the operation of additives and a decrease in the alkalinity reserve, aggressiveness to rubber and metals increases, and foaming increases.
They know that motor oil is a consumable. But many of them perceive this as the need for periodic replacement at scheduled times, forgetting that there is also a natural consumption as a result of burning a certain amount of it while the power unit is running. In the normal state, this expense is small, so many car owners simply do not notice it. But even if the lubricant level has noticeably decreased, which is determined by the marks on the dipstick, this does not always indicate the presence of any malfunctions. It is enough just to add the required amount and continue to operate the car. But if a decrease in the level occurs frequently, it is worth considering using computer diagnostics to find out the cause of this phenomenon and eliminate it. Of course, many factors influence the level of engine oil consumption - the type of engine, its volume, the age of the car or its actual mileage, and even the driving style of the car owner. Therefore, it is so important to know the exact consumption rates and be able to determine why these rates increase over time.
Boundary oil consumption rates for different engines.Normal consumption MM
It is impossible to give an exact answer to the question of what oil consumption in the engine should be considered normal, since this figure can vary greatly depending on a variety of factors. We only note that the combustion of oil in the CPG is a natural process, which, unfortunately, cannot be avoided. Since the lubricant is supplied to the walls of cylinders operating in extreme temperature conditions, its evaporation and partial combustion is inevitable. A certain amount of MM remains on the cylinder walls due to the not absolutely tight fit of the piston rings, so this lubricant enters the combustion chamber, igniting along with the air-fuel mixture. If we give very general and approximate figures, then in modern power units the consumption declared by the manufacturer is 0.1-0.3% of the total fuel consumption used to overcome a certain distance. For example, let's take a car that consumes 10 l / 100 km. fuel. Every 100 kilometers it will lose about 10-30 grams of oil.
If, with a run of 10 thousand km, the consumption exceeds 3 liters, this is already a reason to wonder why your car has become so voracious. However, in many cases this is a completely natural process - the result of wear of rubbing parts and an increase in gaps with a decrease in their ability to hold the thinnest oil film. Note that during the break-in of the vehicle (or when installing a new power unit, as well as after replacing the piston group), oil consumption increases to an average of one liter per thousand km. Depending on operating conditions, oil consumption rates per 1000 km. with a car mileage in the range of 10-150 thousand km will be as follows:
- with a moderate driving mode - 0.25 l .;
- when driving with an increased load - 0.4 l .;
- if the car is operated in mountainous areas - 0.5 l .;
- if the power unit has a mileage exceeding 150 thousand km. - 0.3-0.55 l.
And yet it is generally accepted to bring the standard indicators depending on the type of motor.
Consumption rates for classical atmospheric engines
At present, the share of gasoline atmospheric power units among the entire mass of internal combustion engines remains predominant. For engines with a relatively short service life, the generally accepted consumption rate is about 0.005-0.025% for every 100 liters. In other words, if the fuel consumption indicator is within the normal range, your car will “eat” 5.0-25.0 grams per thousand kilometers. For worn engines, this figure rises to 0.025-0.1%, or burning 25-100 grams of MM every 1000 kilometers. If you operate the car in difficult or extreme conditions, be mentally prepared for the fact that after hitting every thousand kilometers you will have to add from 400 to 650 grams of lubricant.
Consumption rates for turbocharged units
Forced gasoline power units differ from increased fuel consumption, therefore, even for new cars, the rate of engine oil consumption will be about 80 grams for every 100 liters of fuel burned. The modern market offers an increasing number of cars equipped with just such power units, while the number of turbines can vary from one to three. Possessing much more power with comparable or even smaller sizes, such engines are considered the most demanding in terms of both fuel consumption and lubricant consumption. This is understandable, since the turbines themselves need lubrication and are an important source of lubrication. And if there are several turbines, then the oil costs will be even greater. The permissible oil consumption on a boosted engine strongly depends on both the driving style and the engine resource, so it is difficult to give specific indicators here.
MM consumption on diesel engines
The consumption rate of oil for waste on a new diesel power unit is comparable to the consumption for turbocharged gasoline engines and is about 0.3-0.55 grams for every 100 liters of fuel. A critical mark, indicating that you should contact a specialist, is an excess of engine oil consumption in the engine of an indicator of two or more liters for every thousand kilometers.
Reasons for the increase in MM consumption
A noticeable increase in engine oil consumption, as already noted, is a natural phenomenon, but there may be several reasons for the occurrence of such a situation. Let's try to figure out what specifically has the greatest impact on the degree of increase in lubricant consumption and whether it is possible (and how justified) to deal with it. In most cases, oil is consumed more than the norm due to overheating of rubbing parts (evaporation) or as a result of an increase in technological gaps (leakage). Some problems simply indicate wear that is not critical to the engine, and its elimination requires an expensive overhaul. Other reasons may indicate the presence of very serious problems, without urgent elimination of which the engine may soon fail.
Perhaps the most common cause of MM leakage is a violation of the integrity of the BC gasket. This situation usually occurs either as a result of improper tightening of the bolts, or due to overheating of the motor. The way to diagnose the problem is quite simple - a visual inspection of the power unit. The presence of gasket damage will be indicated by oil leaks present in the gasket area. According to statistics, aluminum motors are especially often guilty of this malfunction. If traces of MM are found on the engine, the problem should be fixed. It is possible that for this it is enough to tighten the insufficiently clamped bolts, but more often the reason lies in the curvature of the surface of the BC head. In this case, it must be leveled, and the gasket must be replaced.
Crankshaft
The second common cause of an increase in engine oil consumption is the leakage of lubricating fluid through the seals. This will be indicated by MM smudges under the power unit. The cause of the leak is the wear of the edges of the sealing elements. This result can lead to:
- the use of low-quality seals;
- the use of oils not recommended by the automaker;
- long-term operation of the lubricant (exceeding the scheduled replacement periods).
The second reason is most common, especially for older car models. The problem is relatively easy to fix by replacing leaking seals.
Oil filter
A poorly screwed oil filter is an infrequent cause of lubricating fluid leakage, most often manifested when inexperienced car owners replace this consumable on their own. Usually, to ensure the required tightness, the o-ring is lubricated with a small amount of MM. Beginners do not take this nuance into account, and when wrapping the oil filter, they use insufficient force, which leads to a leak. If the problem cannot be fixed, it is better to change the oil filter to a new one.
valve
The leakage of oil seals operating in high-temperature conditions is also considered a natural phenomenon, since over time rubber loses its elastic characteristics, and the caps are no longer able to provide complete tightness. In such cases, lubricant leakage can occur both at the outlet and at the intake stage. A layer is formed inside the valves, consisting of deposits of oil and fuel assemblies, significantly worsening the engine's injectivity. To solve the problem, replace the caps related to consumables.
Oil scraper rings are a common cause of increased oil consumption, which, getting into the cylinder, mixes with the air-fuel mixture and burns out. Detecting this problem is quite simple - the color of the exhaust acquires a pronounced bluish tint. Rings are made from a material with a specific elasticity index. If the engine often overheats, that is, it operates in high power modes, elasticity decreases. A temperature of the order of 185-200 ° C is considered critical, however, this indicator is individual and depends on the quality of the oil scraper rings. Easily diagnosed loss of elasticity is a sign of the need to replace the rings, which sometimes lose their consumer properties prematurely due to the occurrence of flutters - an effect in which the rings spontaneously enter into resonant vibrations.
Ring coking is another factor that increases lubricant consumption. Their sticking to the piston causes the ring to lose its sealing function, as a result of which the engine compression drops noticeably, accompanied by an increased consumption of MM. Typically, coking occurs either as a result of using the wrong oil or due to normal wear and tear. Special compounds are used to clean the rings, and if they do not help, they will have to be replaced with new ones. In older engines, the destruction of piston bridges can also lead to an increase in MM consumption. These are age-related changes that require the replacement of the piston itself.
cylinders
The oil consumption rate also depends on the condition of the cylinder walls. Due to the increased wear of the O-rings, excess lubricant penetrates into the CPN, which leads to an increase in MM burnout. Wear can be caused both by the aging of parts of the power unit, and the appearance of various defects in the form of scratches on the surface of the cylinders. Gradually, lubricating fluid accumulates in them, leading to the formation of seals that impede the movement of the pistons. In the end, due to overheating (for example, due to clogging of the water channels of the cooling system), the cylinder may simply warp. In such cases, instead of being round, its diameter takes the form of an oval, due to which the sealing rings are no longer able to provide the required tightness, preventing leakage of technical fluids, including engine oil.
One way to solve the problem is to use rings with less stiffness. However, soft O-rings with spring expanders are highly sensitive to extreme temperatures, which is undesirable for a car's cooling system. In any case, it is possible to compensate for the change in the shape of the cylinders only by boring, which is quite expensive, or by using rings with a modified geometry that is maximally adapted to the changed shape of the cylinders. Late ignition is also one of the reasons for the increase in lubricant consumption, but it is easily eliminated - just contact any service station. If you have the appropriate experience, you can adjust the ignition system yourself, since this is a fairly simple procedure.
Increasing the power of a car's power unit with a turbine is becoming an increasingly popular option, but you should always remember that this is a double-edged sword. A turbocharger is a part that requires intensive lubrication, without which it will quickly fail. This means that boosted engines "eat" oil with a much greater appetite than their naturally aspirated cousins. These kinds of problems cannot be avoided. At the same time, some turbocharged engines consume up to 200 grams of engine oil for every hundred kilometers, which is certainly a lot. Topping up two liters every thousand kilometers is not a cheap pleasure, but, as they say, one cannot do without sacrifices. In other matters, most forced power units are characterized by a lubricant consumption that is an order of magnitude less than the specified value, that is, everything is individual here.
Often, even experienced motorists use high-viscosity oil, which, on the one hand, improves the lubrication of the CPG, contributing to the formation of a thicker oil film. This helps to increase the resource of many engine components. But, on the other hand, such a step causes an increase in MM losses. The explanation for this is simple - the larger the area of contact of the liquid with the rubbing surfaces, the greater the rate of grease burnout. That is, choosing an oil with an improved viscosity index, you must solve an important dilemma - spend more money on topping up oil or refuse to increase the total resource of the power unit. The choice will be especially difficult for owners of used cars, who already eat a lot of technical fluids with a resource that is already “breathing its last”.
Another thing is the use of low-quality oil. They buy it in the hope of saving money, because the products of noname manufacturers are several times cheaper. Although the viscosity of such a lubricant usually corresponds to the specified rating, many of its important characteristics are determined by the addition of additives to the composition. For branded oils, these are the most modern high-tech additives that help reduce losses due to oil evaporation. Cheap analogues do not have such additives, which automatically leads to an increase in the consumption of lubricating fluid. Therefore, such savings are hardly justified, at least from the point of view of the cost of topping up the MM, not to mention the harm that is caused to the nodes of the power unit.
terms of Use
It should be mentioned that the prevailing operating mode can also have a significant impact on the consumption rates of technical fluids. If the engine is often under heavy load, increased engine oil consumption is inevitable. If you are a supporter of an aggressive driving style and prefer a sharp start and movement at maximum speed, if you live in mountainous areas, be prepared for the fact that you will have to add lubricant much more often. On the contrary, driving at an average pace reduces the consumption of both fuel and oil, since in this case the temperature regime is more gentle, and losses from waste are minimal. So, if you have a long trip on the highway, be sure to take a can of oil with you to top up, even if you have not noticed an increase in consumption before.
Summing up, we can conditionally divide the causes of increased lubricant waste into two categories: those that are inevitable due to natural wear and tear, and those that arise due to the use of inappropriate consumables and materials. In the latter case, it makes sense to compare the cost of purchasing cheaper oil with the cost of refilling it frequently. If the expense is associated with the natural wear of CPG parts, it is better to spend money on topping up a few extra liters of lubricating fluid every 10 thousand kilometers than to overhaul the engine.
